US senators say sanctions on Nord Stream 2 could harm relations with Germany
American Democratic senators have objected to sanctions proposed by the Republicans on Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, saying the move could harm relations with Germany.
Several Democratic senators said late on Monday, after meeting with Biden administration officials, that they believe sanctions on the pipeline taking Russian gas to northern Europe backed by Republican Senator Ted Cruz could harm relations with Germany.
The multi-billion-dollar project to take Russian gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany was completed in September but is awaiting approval from German and European Union regulators, and some politicians.
The United States is pushing for blocking the deal due to several policy disagreements with Russia.
Meanwhile, about 10 Democratic senators met with under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and President Joe Biden's global energy security adviser Amos Hochstein on Monday.
Late Monday they told reporters that the administration officials had been persuasive and they believe sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline backed by Republican Senator Ted Cruz could harm relations with Germany.
Senator Chris Murphy said the administration officials persuaded the senators that Cruz's bill could harm relations with Germany's new government at this sensitive time when Washington needs Berlin's full backing to exert pressure on Russia to stop what the White House says could be a possible plan by the Kremlin to invade Ukraine.
Meanwhile, top US and Russian officials have held high-stake talks aimed at easing tensions over Ukraine.
Russia has been threatened to face conflict by the US-led NATO forces if it invades Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly reiterated that expansion of the NATO military infrastructure in Ukraine is a red line for it.
Russia says NATO expansion must exclude Ukraine and other former Soviet republics.
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